The effect of saturated fats in the diet on sperm quality and infertility

Introduction: Lifestyle, diet and overweight affect fertility. Following a proper diet is one of the valuable interventions in reproductive health. This article discusses the relationship between male infertility and saturated fat in the diet.Methods: The keywords of saturated fat, cholesterol, quality of semen, amount of semen, sperm morphology, sperm count, sperm motility, were searched in the pubmed, Google scholar and Persian database without time limit. Papers assessed at first based on title and abstract and then based on full text. Data extracted and summarized based on the aim of research.Result: Although some papers showed that saturated fat intake was unrelated to semen conditions, more researches found a significant dose response association, such as a lower sperm concentration and lower total sperm count in men with a high intake of saturated fat was found. Men in the highest saturated fat intake had a ۳۸% lower sperm concentration and a nearly ۴۰% lower total sperm count than men in the lowest intake. Normal volume of semen reduced ۳۸% for every one gram increase in saturated fat. Saturated fat intake negatively effect on sperm morphology and motility. Men who ate foods that contained healthier polyunsaturated fats (such as omega-۳ and omega-۶ fatty acids) had higher levels of healthier and more active sperm. Men in the highest level of omega-۳ fatty acids intake had near ۲% higher normal morphology than men in the lowest intake.Conclusion: High intake of saturated fat was negatively related to sperm concentration. Reduce saturated fatty acids intake in diet can improve semen quality is beneficial for men reproductive health. Higher intake of omega-۳ and omega-۶ polyunsaturated fats was related to a more favorable sperm morphology and motility.

Keywords:

Saturated Fats , Diet , Sperm Quality , Sperm Motility , Sperm Morphology , Semen , Infertility